LAGRANGE, Ga.—A pedestrian bridge that will
span Vernon Street, linking LaGrange College’s new Lewis Library with
adjacent parking, will be named for school president Stuart Gulley and
his wife, Kathleen, once fundraising is complete.

Three months ago Gulley
announced he will leave the institution in June to assume the presidency
of Atlanta’s Woodward Academy after a 13-year stint on the Hill.

“The Gulleys’ impact during their tenure at LaGrange has been
tremendous,” said Bill Hodges, chair of the college’s board of trustees.
“Kathleen has been a perfect first lady, and as with so many of the
college’s projects and initiatives, Stuart has been the visionary and
driving force behind the construction of the Lewis Library and the
pedestrian bridge.

“It
is with a sense of deep appreciation for their decade-plus of proactive
leadership that we made the decision to honor Stuart and Kathleen with
the naming of the new pedestrian bridge.”

The bridge, designed in a style
in keeping with the college’s traditional architecture, will feature a
clock tower reminiscent of a local landmark: the Callaway Clock Tower.
The tower’s two clocks will each measure 7 feet in diameter and will
face east and west toward traffic on Vernon Street.

Langford Construction of LaGrange
is building the bridge, which will include concrete beams with brick
abutments. On the span’s south end, a staircase, as well as an elevator
for handicap access, will lead to a walkway 21 feet above the road.

To help finance the construction
while improving educational programs, the college has launched a new
fundraising initiative known as the “Bridge to the Future Million Dollar Match,” which calls for the college to use existing funds from the gift of a generous donor
to match any new donations made from Jan. 1 through June 30 at a
2-for-1 rate—up to a cumulative total of $1.5 million. Once the funding
goal is met, the naming will take place.

“By providing the match, the college is tripling the impact of gifts
received,” said Scott Hawkins, chair of the college’s $65 million Defining Moment
campaign. “This also allows everyone on and off campus the opportunity
to say thank you to a wonderful couple who have given 13 years of their
lives to the betterment of the college and the community.”

Designed by Benefield Richters of Knoxville, Tenn., the bridge will
provide a physical connection between the portion of campus known as the
Hill, which includes the college’s oldest structures, and the southern
portion of campus, which features landmarks such as the Lamar Dodd Art Center, Price Theater and Callaway Auditorium.

“A pedestrian bridge is something the college has needed for some time now, and the construction of the Lewis Library
has offered the perfect opportunity to bring this project to life,”
Hawkins said. “The new construction will fill a big need, and at the
same time, allow us to honor a couple who have taken LaGrange College to
new heights.”

Construction of the bridge began early this month and is expected to be completed sometime in the spring. The library’s dedication ceremony is scheduled for April 17.